Tournament Drama: J.J. Spaun Shines, Yet Scottie Scheffler Cements Lead; Organizers Hurry to Conclude Players Championship Before Approaching Storms
Rewritten Article:
Heading into an unexpected early final round, American golfer J.J. Spaun seized the lead at The Players Championship 2025, thanks to a long-range putt in a stormy TPC Sawgrass. Heavy winds brewed across the course, halting Scottie Scheffler's quest for a historic three-peat.
Spaun, ranked 57th in the world, remarkably carded a two-under 70 on Saturday, pulling ahead in the race for the biggest victory of his career at the PGA Tour's flagship event. The 34-year-old golfer will kick off the final round alongside compatriots Bud Cauley and Lucas Glover at an earlier start time of 10:01 a.m. ET (2 p.m. GMT) due to the predicted onslaught of inclement weather in Ponte Vedra Beach on Sunday afternoon.
Ravaging tornadoes have torn through the Midwest and South of the United States since Friday, resulting in at least 31 lives lost. The PGA Tour warned in a statement that a significant cold front was expected to arrive in Northeast Florida on Sunday afternoon, with storms forecasted to hit between 3 and 5 p.m. ET.
Given the weather forecast, the tournament organizers scheduled players to start as early as 8 a.m. and play in groups of three simultaneously from the first and 10th tees, rather than the customary two-player groups teeing off from the first hole at a later time. This change aims to prevent a repeat of the 2022 tournament, during which severe weather delays forced all 71 players to complete their third rounds on Monday morning.
Competitive golfer J.J. Spaun hasn't let his single PGA Tour victory intimidate him as he approaches the final round with a slim advantage. The 34-year-old Californian displayed the poise of a serial winner, rebounding impressively from setbacks that threatened to derail his bid for the title. After a near miss for par on the penultimate hole, Spaun confidently drained a long putt to save par and avoid another bogey, securing his position atop the leaderboard.
Bud Cauley, currently ranked 251st in the world, and Scottie Scheffler, who held the top spot until Saturday's event, trail closely behind. Cauley had an exceptional 66 on the day, making a comeback from a severe 2018 car accident that sidelined him for over three years with various injuries and complications.
As for Scheffler, the two-time major champion appears to be off his game, showing visible frustration due to windy conditions and poor putting. Despite the seven-shot gap between him and Spaun, Scheffler remains hopeful, aiming to make a good start on Sunday and potentially steal the crown from Spaun.
- American golfer J.J. Spaun, despite facing setbacks, demonstrated the composure of a serial winner, saving Par with a long putt to maintain his lead in the final round of The Players Championship 2025.
- Scottie Scheffler, who held the top spot until Saturday's event, trails behind J.J. Spaun, but remains hopeful for a come-from-behind victory, aiming to overcome the windy conditions and poor putting during the final round.
- Bud Cauley, who made a remarkable comeback from a severe 2018 car accident, is also in contention for the title, having carded a 66 on Saturday and hoping to improve his game in the following round.
